Chamber plugging device for firearms



Aug. 29, 1961 c. ROBBINS CHAMBER PLUGGING DEVICE FOR FIREARMS Filed Nov. 26, 1958 INVENTOR Lewis [1. R nbhins.

United States Patent Ofifice CHAMBER PLUGGING DEVICE FOR FIREARMS Lewis C. Robbins, 2918 28th St. NW., Washington, D.'C. Filed Nov. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 776,480

2 Claims. (Cl. 42-1) The present invention relates to safety devices for firearms and is particularly directed to devices for small arms such as rifles.

It is widely known that a large number of persons are killed or injured each year because of gun accidents. This continuing condition has been the subject of a number of studies, such as the Uniform Hunters Casualty Report, a research project conducted under the auspices of the National Rifle Association of America.

In its wider aspects the safety problem respecting small arms involves consideration not only of the possibility of accidents in the field where guns are carried for purposes of hunting or target practice, but those that can occur at any place where guns are accessible, inclusive especially of certain hazards which are of a type that is so common as to have become known as unloaded gun accidents. In these cases the person discharging the weapon, often with tragic consequences, acts on the assumption that no cartridge is in the chamlber.

It is clear that educational programs are of great importance but at the same time are subject to limitations. Despite all that has been done to disseminate information, accidents continue to happen. This shortcoming is illustrated by the fact that many unloaded gun accidents are caused by children and others who are beyond the reach of instructional programs, and further, even persons who are well aware of the necessary precautions, too frequently are lax in observing simple safety rules.

One factor that contributes to the high frequency of gun accidents lies in the circumstance that the effort required to check the loading condition is just enough so as to cause the shooter to guess whether the gun is loaded rather than to determine this by opening the action. Further, precautions such as keeping the firing chamber open, are more often than not either inconvenient or impossible. With these considerations in mind applicant has turned his attention to a comparatively unexplored phase of the problem, namely the possibility of providing a visual means that will positively and at all times prove the condition of a gun with respect to loading.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a visual means that will direct attention of those responsible for, or involved in the handling or rifles, to the condition of the arm with respect to loading.

A further object of the invention is to provide means that will serve in a campaign for the protection of the public against the danger of loaded firearms, and that will enable the bystander to protect himself, since ithas been shown that the bystander is a casualty of hunting accidents several times as often as'the shooter.

A further object of the invention is to provide means I whereby the danger period of a firearm can be reduced thereby permitting the shooter to concentrate his safety measures and attention on that period when he is firing or is about to fire the am, rather than attempting to maintain alertness at all times. The unloaded period for the gun will vary with different conditions of use.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby a number of firearms can be readily and rapidly inspected as by a group supervisor in order to distinguish between those arms which are positively identifiable as unloaded and those which are in questionable condition.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple device inexpensive to produce and that will be Patented Aug. 29, 1961 individual gun owner, or

General description The safety device according to my invention comprises a device having a firing chamber plugging element and an exterior visible element. The firing chamber plugging element is of a length sufiicient to insure that when the device is in place there cannot be a cartridge in the chamber, and is of a thickness for at least part of its length slightly less than the diameter of the chamber. The visible element is firmly attached to the plugging element and is of such dimensions as to be readily visible on cursory inspection of the arm. Extending between the plugging element and the visible element there is an intermediate bridging portion or neck connecting the two elements in relatively fixed relationship.

The said elements are preferably formed from a material that is softer than the metal parts of the firearm whereby scarring or scratching of the firearm parts is avoided. I have found that aluminum is suitable, and it will be clear to those skilled in the art that other materials may be used. For the visible element in certain embodiments, I prefer to use a suitable plastic material. In general it is desirable to form the safety device from light weight materials.

The safety device according'to my invention may be formed wholly of a single suitable material, as will hereinafter be fully described and may advantageously consist entirely of metal.

Where the visible element comprises a plastic material this may be clear and transparent or in any desired color. Fluorescent or phosphorescent plastic material, or a color coating, may be provided. In any event whether of metal, plastic or other material, the visible element is preferably of such appearance as to be readily distinguishable. In size also the visibleelement is such as to serve as a flag or signal to indicate the loading condition of the firearm.

The device as a whole is of such conformation and proportions as to be readily applied, and with equal facility removed from the firearm. In general it. is preferable that the overall dimensions of the device do not substantially exceed the combined length of the chamber and breech opening. When properly designed the safety device will remain securely in place Without any further holding means regardless of the position in which the gun is held merely as a result of the locking fit of the essential elements to the chamber and adjacent portions of the arm. However, with certain types of firearms it is advantageous to provide the device with a releasable catch as will hereinafter appear.

The objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following specifications in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation and partly in vertical section of an embodiment of a safety device according to my invention, same being shown in engagement on a rifle.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the safety device illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a second embodiment of a safety device according to my invention, same being shown in engagement on a rifle.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views,

and .first to FIGURES 1, 2

3 and 3 thereof, the numeral 11 refers generally to a rifle barrel having a firing chamber 13 and a breech portion 17. The bolt 19 is shown in "drawn back position {exposing -the :breech opening 21;

A device in accordance with the present invention :and

.generally designated as 23 comprises an elongated Jplug element '25 and anexterior visible element 27. Plug el'e- I ment 25 is interconnected to the visible element 27 by 'neck 29, the latter consisting, in the illustrated example, of an integral extension of plug element 25 disposed at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to the axial direction of plug element25. The upper terminal end of the "interconnecting neck 29 which is rectangular incross section is received in an opening 31 wherein it closely *fits ;-and "is retained by' s'orew 33.

The visible element 27 which is shown as generally cubical in shape is provided with an arcuate recess 35 "the tact that the materials may be selected to provide a device of small weight, the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 is-satis fa'ctory for most purposes.

However, if desired, means may be provided for positive engagement of the device with the rifle chamber as shown in FIGURE 3. In this embodiment the "safety device 23:: is provided with a catch 37 comprising a release lever 39 and :a-locking lever '41 integrally joined and rotatively movable on pivot 43. A spring "45 normally forces'the release lever 39 to the night and the locking lever downwardly. In this position the tip end 'of the 'locking'lever engages the rim -47 of the breech 17. When it is desired to remove the device, release lever is pressed forward thereby compressing spring '45,-and simultaneously forcing theentir'e deviceforward a 'slight distance and raising locking lever 41. In attaching the device to the rifle'the release lever 39 is depressed, the plug element'25a is inserted in the chamber, the device is settled in place and the lever '39 is released.

A small clearance space 50a is providedf 'between the neck or shank 2 9a and the rear end of the gun barrel. When it is desired to remove the device,- it is pushed forward manually thedistanceofthe clearance space 50a, which is sufli'cient to permit locking lever '41 "to clear the rim 47 and to move -upward, whereuponthedevice will be sufliciently disengaged to permit removal from-the gun breech. The-method of applying the device is "simply to insert the plug 25a, "and push the device "fully forward whereupon lever '41 automatically snap down in place; as illustrated.

In FIGURE '1 a similar srnall clearance space :50 is provided, and serves to facilitate attachment dfandremoval 'of the device, without operation of a-lock ing lever.

It will be understood that theforegoing-embodiments are by way of illustration .and not limitation. What I claim and desire to protect by grant of Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In combination with a firearm having a firing chamher and a breech opening, a safety device forv visually infiring chamber and outside saidvbreech opening when "said plugging element is inserted in said firing chamber, means interconnecting said ,phlgging element and said offset visible .element, said visible element being provided with a recess extending longitudinally in a direction :substantially parallel to the axisof said firing chamber plugging element, the length of said visible element :being greater than the length of the breech opening of said firearm, the width of said recess being greater than "the width-of the breech opening of said firearm, saidplugging element being spaced from the inner wall of said recess.

2. In combination with a firearm having 'a firing chamher and a breech opening, a safety device for visually indicating when said firearm is in disarrn-ed condition, said device consisting essentially of a'firing chamber plugging element insertalble in said fin'ngchamber, and a visible element offset with respect to said plugging element, 'said visible element being substantially wholly outside said firing chamber and outside said breech opening when said plugging element is inserted in said firing chamber, means interconnecting said plugging element and said'otfset visible element, said visible element being provided with a recess extending longitudinally in a direction :substantially parallel to the axis-of :said firing chamber lplu gging element, the length of said visible element :being greater than the length of the breech opening of said firearm, the width of said recess being greater than the width of the breech opening of said'firearm, :said plugging element being spaced from the inner wall of said r'ecess, said device being further provided with releasable catch means. References Cited in the tile ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 790,634 Hirsh May 23, 1905 1,028,032 Krag May 28, 1912 1,992,934 Bamberger Mar. 5,1935 2,327,334 Parker Aug. I7, 1943 2,403,452 Novak July 9, 1946 2,475,618 Johnson Ju1y 12, 1949 2,478,098 Hansen :Aug. .2, 1949 2,530,560 Young Nov. 21, 1950 2,794,363 Parfitt June 4, 19 57 $2,817,172 Lehman 'Dec.i24, 1957 2,887,807 Santangelo :-May 26, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 560,025 France a June 28, 1923 304,510 Great Britain -Jan. 24, @1929 Australia .,-Jan. 15, 1948 

